Mets' Pillar suffered nasal fractures after taking fastball to face
New York Mets outfielder Kevin Pillar was forced to leave Monday's game against the Atlanta Braves after a pitch hit his face.
The Mets provided an update on Pillar on Tuesday, saying the outfielder suffered multiple nasal fractures and will meet with a facial specialist in Atlanta to determine the next steps.
Pillar tweeted after the game that he's recovering well following a trip to the hospital.
Thanks to everyone that has reached out! Scary moment but I’m doing fine! #RBI #gamewinner 👍🏽👍🏽
— Kevin Pillar (@KPILLAR4) May 18, 2021
Pillar took a 94-mph fastball from Braves reliever Jacob Webb to the nose. Players on both teams were shaken up afterward.
Scary scene at Truist Park after Mets player Kevin Pillar gets hit in the face with a pitch. pic.twitter.com/LriIV4ESB5
— Bally Sports South (@BallySportsSO) May 18, 2021
The veteran was down and bleeding for some time, but he was able to get up under his own power to leave the field.
"This guy's a warrior," Rojas said postgame, according to Deesha Thosar of the New York Daily News. "He shows up every day to play hard. He got up on his feet and left.
"There was no chance I thought he was going to be able to do that after he got hit in the face. But he got up, and he left, and that's at least one positive to see in the scary moment."
Kevin Pillar...Man, how tough do you need to be to take a fastball to the face and then rise to your feet and walk off while a zombie film’s worth of blood is pouring out of you?
— Ian O'Connor (@Ian_OConnor) May 18, 2021
Khalil Lee pinch ran for Pillar and took over in right field.
If he's out for any amount of time, it will be yet another injury to the team's already-depleted outfield.
New York placed Michael Conforto on the injured list alongside Jeff McNeil earlier Monday. The pair joined Brandon Nimmo, Albert Almora Jr., and occasional left fielder J.D. Davis, all of whom were already sidelined with various ailments.